Building on the dunes in Todos Santos, BCS, has always been controversial. The law provides that building requires a permit and a set-back. Construction is only allowed behind the dunes. This is for the protection of the owners, there neighbors and the environment, the dunes constituting an important ecosystem and protector of the coastline. Nonetheless, over the last few years several buildings have promoted the sale of dune lots and put this region at risk. Rumor suggested fines may have been paid, but clearly they were not enough as these did not prevent the construction from taking place. The following should be music to the ears of those fighting the good fight….

Submitted on behalf of the group of concerned neighbors of the Las Tunas dunes (to which we are all thankful).

The Danger of Building on Fragile Dunes

The dunes construction is in Federal hands now and the Las Tunas Homeowners Association will soon be resurrected as a voting body to ensure continued protection of our neighborhood and our coast.

The construction site has officially been suspended by Profepa. No work will be allowed to continue. The builder is in violation of so many other things… besides building without permits, which is grounds alone to shut them down. They also have the authority to, and intend to, demand all existing construction to date be torn down. Of course it also goes without saying that significant fines will be levied as well.

At Profepa’s request, biologists have prepared and provided reports of all the native flora and fauna that have been destroyed, and have assessed the area that the landowner will specifically be required to restore, once the construction is demolished.

Construction on Todos Santos Dunes

A full investigation is underway, with the mayor’s cooperation, of the local building inspector and his superior, who both have allowed the two previously built dunes homes to be built without permits, and this third one to start. Please note: There are absolutely NO permit applications for building any homes on file or permits ever issued for any construction on the dunes lots in any of the appropriate governing agency’s files…including the one that should have been filed in the local mayor’s office. The only legal permit issued is from Semarnat in 2005 allowing the developer to subdivide the lots….not to build. Unfortunately the lots have been and are continuing to be sold as having Semarnat approval to build. It’s just not true.

It should be heartening for all of us to know that there are some good decent people in the government agencies with integrity, who do want to do the right thing and cannot be bought. They are the heroes in this scenario and hats off to them!